(Bosom) Friend Fridays: Graham Stoner

Sometimes, you find a friend that you didn’t even realize you needed until he’s there, fixing things around your house and giving good hugs.

I hired Graham Stoner (aka Handy Graham) off the internet in 2008. He had just been voted Nashville’s Best Handyman, and shoot. I needed a handyman. Simple as that, our friendship was born.

Sometimes, girl-guy friendships can be weird – but immediately, Graham and I had a real-deal bond. Here we are, back in 2008 – before the years of hard livin’ got us down.

A few days after we met, we went camping with a very random-yet-awesome group – and that’s when I introduced Graham and Hunter. They’re now best friends. I definitely (and pompously) take credit for this match, and feel like it might be the #1 reason the winds of fate blew me through Nashville – just to link those two together.

I love them.

If you know Graham, you know that he’s something great. He is funny and personable and helpful and smart. He’s good at basically everything he tries. Running? Fast. Music? Skills. Cooking? The man can use a cast iron skillet. For his 30th birthday, I made a list of 30 great things about him – and it was kind of the easiest thing ever.

Earlier this summer, I got a phone call from Graham. He told me that he was moving – to Colorado. COLORADO THE STATE IN WHICH I LIVE. I smiled so big I thought my face was going to crack off. And on Sunday, when I saw him in Denver for the first time, it was that deep soul-sigh of relief – one of my people, my main people, close by again.